Dec 4: Canucks vs Bruins

[Iced Tea]

Canucks back home to face Bruins

Sports Ticker
12/4/2005 11:30:01 AM

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The new-look Boston Bruins have looked surprisingly solid since trading their captain on Wednesday.

The Bruins try to win their third consecutive game when they continue a three-game road trip tonight against the Vancouver Canucks.

After losing nine of 10, the Bruins acquired Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart from the Sharks for Joe Thornton, who was leading the team with 33 points. Boston has won both games since the trade against teams with winning records.

The Bruins followed Thursday's 3-0 win against Ottawa with a 5-4 overtime triumph over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Defenceman David Tanabe scored the game-winner and Brad Boyes tallied twice for Boston, which trailed by three goals in the second period.

Vancouver is glad to be back home after losing its last three road contests, including Thursday's 5-3 defeat to the Oilers. Josh Green, Daniel Sedin and Anson Carter scored for the Canucks, who squandered a two-goal lead.

Vancouver has been dominant at home this season, winning its last four games and 11 of 12 overall here. Only Nashville and Ottawa have won more games on home ice.

The teams have not met since Boston posted a 2-1 overtime victory on November 15, 2003.TSN Link (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=145698&hubname=)

The Canucks better win this game because home game dominance is the only thing going right these days.

By the way, Josh Green suffered a hand injury during a fight in an AHL game yesterday so he won't be a call up for a while.

[KB in Kelowna]

Yikes about Green. He was one of the few producing and I thought he should have stayed up and Lee Goren should have been sent down to enjoy the charms of Winterpeg.

[TimmyTabasco]

This is a big game for the Canucks

Calgary now leads the NW division

Auld has to play a very solid game, and the pluggers need to play very well too

Too bad Green is out

[Iced Tea]

First of all, even though the Canucks won, they didn't play a full 60 minutes. They came out really strong, started letting the Bruins dominate in the last 5 minutes of the first period, Bruins owned the second period, Crawford must have flipped out in the second intermission and the Canucks played a fairly good third period. If the Canucks didn't slow down for the middle 25 minutes, they could've given Auld a shutout.

I watched this game and got thinking about the differences in the play of the top two lines. The A S S line is playing like Carter is the Sedins' long lost brother. I think the Canucks have finally found the Sedins a player who can complete the line.

In comparison, the top line is out of sync and while they put up a few points, as a unit they suck. Naslund is working hard even when he doesn't have the puck. Morrison is shooting more and finally putting up some points. Bertuzzi is in the Bermuda Triangle of bad luck right now. Sure he can plant himself in front of the net and make the odd decent play but until he starts moving his feet, driving to the net, and being surly, the top line is not going to put up the points they need to lead the Canucks. Until they start lighting it up, the A S S line is my number one line.

Good points:
1. Auld had a good game. Can't fault him on the Bruin's PP goal. He gave up fewer juicy rebounds than previous games. Good positional game. Only thing he did wrong was hesitate on the puck he went after near the blueline and the time he spent along the right boards with several Bruins and Canucks around him. Don't know what he was thinking in both cases, good thing Baumgartner was able to keep the puck out of the net after Auld's blueline skate/mistake.
2. Linden, Goren and Ruutu line had a good game. Happy to see Linden get a goal, darn near had a second one.
3. A S S line had a great night, happy Daniel is shooting and scoring. I thought this season was going to be like the last few where the Sedins would rather pass then shoot. Henrik is scoring too.
4. Kesler scored after another long drought. Hope this is the start of something. Balej got an assist for a sweet pass to Kesler.
5. Defense played fairly well but also had a poor middle 25 minutes, same as the rest of the team. The Bruins were afraid of Salo's point shot. :D

Bad points:
1. Poor play in the last 5 minutes of the 1st period and entire 2nd period.
2. Too many stupid penalties.
3. Allowed a Bruins' PP goal. After killing off the 5 on 3, how could the Canucks allowed a goal during 5 on 4? McCarthy should have skated to the bench and allowed a forward to play the forward position on the PK because it was obvious from his effort that McCarthy does not know how to kill a penalty as a forward.
4. 2 for 8 on the PP isn't that good considering the Canucks couldn't score during their 1m 10s of 5 on 3 during the 3rd period.

Other points:
1. I don't think this was that good of a game. Sure the Canucks won 5 - 2 but they could have won 5 - 0 if they didn't slack off for 25 minutes. Bertuzzi, Naslund and Morrison need to get hot at the same time and feed off of each other's confidence. Until that happens, the Canucks will be uncapable of really putting teams away and becoming the force we know they can be.
2. It's surprising that in the new NHL where defensemen can't hook, hold and tug; Bertuzzi isn't an unstoppable force going towards the net and in front of the net. He needs to gains some confidence back.
3. Hannu Toivonen is awesome, 34 saves on 39 shots, some incredible saves, and he kept the Bruins in a game that could have been a blowout.
4. The Canucks' retro jerseys should become the regular game jerseys.

[TimmyTabasco]

3. A S S line had a great night, happy Daniel is shooting and scoring. I thought this season was going to be like the last few where the Sedins would rather pass then shoot. Henrik is scoring too.

Totally agree. Carter has really gelled with the twins, and that line has been dominant. This is great that finally the twins have someone they can gel with

4. Kesler scored after another long drought. Hope this is the start of something. Balej got an assist for a sweet pass to Kesler.

Yeah, it was good to see kesler get the goal. He works hard, and is playing quite well defensively. Nice to see Balej up with the club. This guy has speed, and lots of potential.


3. Hannu Toivonen is awesome, 34 saves on 39 shots, some incredible saves, and he kept the Bruins in a game that could have been a blowout.
4. The Canucks' retro jerseys should become the regular game jerseys.

Cloutier and a pick for Toivonen? ;) :laughing: He was very good. The finns are really producing solid netminders these days

I also prefer the retro style. They just look sharper in them.

Good report Mr. Tea. I missed the first period, but caught the 2nd/3rd.

Overall a good bounce back win. I would have liked to see the top line produce more. Perhaps the chemistry is just gone?

They have plenty of time to practise, and get ready for the big bad sens

[KB in Kelowna]

They still don't play for a full 60 :curse: Lee Goren must have read what I posted about him;) he played well last night. :D

[Yoata]

First of all, even though the Canucks won, they didn't play a full 60 minutes. They came out really strong, started letting the Bruins dominate in the last 5 minutes of the first period, Bruins owned the second period, Crawford must have flipped out in the second intermission and the Canucks played a fairly good third period. If the Canucks didn't slow down for the middle 25 minutes, they could've given Auld a shutout.

I watched this game and got thinking about the differences in the play of the top two lines. The A S S line is playing like Carter is the Sedins' long lost brother. I think the Canucks have finally found the Sedins a player who can complete the line.

In comparison, the top line is out of sync and while they put up a few points, as a unit they suck. Naslund is working hard even when he doesn't have the puck. Morrison is shooting more and finally putting up some points. Bertuzzi is in the Bermuda Triangle of bad luck right now. Sure he can plant himself in front of the net and make the odd decent play but until he starts moving his feet, driving to the net, and being surly, the top line is not going to put up the points they need to lead the Canucks. Until they start lighting it up, the A S S line is my number one line.

Good points:
1. Auld had a good game. Can't fault him on the Bruin's PP goal. He gave up fewer juicy rebounds than previous games. Good positional game. Only thing he did wrong was hesitate on the puck he went after near the blueline and the time he spent along the right boards with several Bruins and Canucks around him. Don't know what he was thinking in both cases, good thing Baumgartner was able to keep the puck out of the net after Auld's blueline skate/mistake.
2. Linden, Goren and Ruutu line had a good game. Happy to see Linden get a goal, darn near had a second one.
3. A S S line had a great night, happy Daniel is shooting and scoring. I thought this season was going to be like the last few where the Sedins would rather pass then shoot. Henrik is scoring too.
4. Kesler scored after another long drought. Hope this is the start of something. Balej got an assist for a sweet pass to Kesler.
5. Defense played fairly well but also had a poor middle 25 minutes, same as the rest of the team. The Bruins were afraid of Salo's point shot. :D

Bad points:
1. Poor play in the last 5 minutes of the 1st period and entire 2nd period.
2. Too many stupid penalties.
3. Allowed a Bruins' PP goal. After killing off the 5 on 3, how could the Canucks allowed a goal during 5 on 4? McCarthy should have skated to the bench and allowed a forward to play the forward position on the PK because it was obvious from his effort that McCarthy does not know how to kill a penalty as a forward.
4. 2 for 8 on the PP isn't that good considering the Canucks couldn't score during their 1m 10s of 5 on 3 during the 3rd period.

Other points:
1. I don't think this was that good of a game. Sure the Canucks won 5 - 2 but they could have won 5 - 0 if they didn't slack off for 25 minutes. Bertuzzi, Naslund and Morrison need to get hot at the same time and feed off of each other's confidence. Until that happens, the Canucks will be uncapable of really putting teams away and becoming the force we know they can be.
2. It's surprising that in the new NHL where defensemen can't hook, hold and tug; Bertuzzi isn't an unstoppable force going towards the net and in front of the net. He needs to gains some confidence back.
3. Hannu Toivonen is awesome, 34 saves on 39 shots, some incredible saves, and he kept the Bruins in a game that could have been a blowout.
4. The Canucks' retro jerseys should become the regular game jerseys.

Agree with most points, except, with Floatuzzi I don't buy the luck excuse, he needs to put in a more consistent effort, that's his problem. Also, the only dman who played with any poise resembling an NHLer was Salo yet again, the rest of them looked bad often, especially Ohlund, Joopsi and Allen. Toivunen was good at times, but also looked bad on a couple of the goals, looks like he's trying to be too flashy to me. Also another very inconsistently reffed game, both ways.

[TimmyTabasco]

They still don't play for a full 60 :curse: Lee Goren must have read what I posted about him;) he played well last night. :D

Yeah, it would be nice for them to play a full 60 minutes

This team has the ability to dominate, and play like the sens. But they have yet to reach that level..during this season

Good game for Goren. He hustled. I guess he is concerned about Green :coffee: :D

[Yoata]

Nucks are a Hasek, Spezza, and Chara short of being comparable to the Sens.

[TimmyTabasco]

Nucks are a Hasek, Spezza, and Chara short of being comparable to the Sens.

Sure, ofcourse those players are better than Cloutier, Morrison, and Ohlund

However, in the past..the Canucks/Sens have been two of the top teams in the league

[Iced Tea]

Agree with most points, except, with Floatuzzi I don't buy the luck excuse, he needs to put in a more consistent effort, that's his problem. Also, the only dman who played with any poise resembling an NHLer was Salo yet again, the rest of them looked bad often, especially Ohlund, Joopsi and Allen. Toivunen was good at times, but also looked bad on a couple of the goals, looks like he's trying to be too flashy to me. Also another very inconsistently reffed game, both ways.Bad luck may have been the wrong term; I meant Bertuzzi is floating around, playing like crap and is maybe 50% of his former self during most games.

Like I said, the middle 25 minutes was bad for everyone, including the defense.

[TimmyTabasco]

Nice sig Tea :)

Poor guy eh..hopefully he is called up sooner rather than later

[Yoata]

Sure, of course those players are WAY better than Cloutier, Morrison, and Jovanoopsi.

However, in the past..the Canucks/Sens have been two of the top teams in the league, and they are still, if you just look at the standings.

Fixed.

[TimmyTabasco]

Fixed.

Can you please stop fixing my posts? Just post your opinion. That would be much appreciated

Yes, the Sens are still one of the top teams in the league. Only a fool would think otherwise. They are the best in the league.

The Canucks are a very good team, but I don't think they are playing consistent hockey this season.

[Yoata]

Fixing your posts is how I express my opinion, I figured that was obvious.

Again, the Canucks are as good this year as they've ever been, according to the standings, but, as in other years, they're still not a serious contender, for the reasons I've posted, and others, consistency being one of them.